I could sure use a few hawks here. Right now I am also losing fruit, for the first time this year they also got ahead of me (I was away over the weekend). @Ahmad here are some pictures, I moved a couple more traps into the hot area but I should have had them there a few days ago. I set all the traps before I left town and caught five squirrels, but I needed a few more traps, three are wreaking havoc in my peaches now.
The middle picture is the hot spot, I just moved another trap there now (the lowest picture I took and then moved the trap).
Don’t be too disappointed if they walk by traps, I find they eventually get tired of peaches or whatever and want some peanut butter on the side. Just keep them baited and ready. I added some nuts for additional temptation, sprinkling them all over the area plus in the traps. The five I caught over the weekend were just with peanut butter so I don’t think the nuts are critical, but it can’t hurt.
I don’t keep a precise count, but something like 30 is an average year. This year … maybe 40 so far.
This tube trap is in an asian pear in the next row to the peach hot spot, its between their escape tree (in background) and the peaches. Another good place to set traps…
I finally found a quick and easy way to bend the u in the tube traps. Each time I see it deformed I put a piece of 1x2 in the Tube and push the handle down. It bends right back into place in 5 seconds. I take this with me each time I bait the traps now.
How is your squirrel pressure now? I have barely seen any and cant believe we are actually able to harvest sweet corn this year. Prior to the tube traps the squirrels would decimate my corn. Not so this year.
Same here. I did catch one last week but it’s rare and I haven’t seen one since - but still set up the trap. Reducing the population is a year 'round project.
Now I have to turn my efforts to the raccoons.
You have been very diligent and this report gives me hope. Nabbing them in the winter is so much easier as their food choices are reduced. I figure if you get 30 in the winter it’s like 150 in the spring. I assume interrupting the breeding cycle is key.
@ConwayOrchard, my fairly educated guess is you will have to thin them out forever. Squirrels are territorial, you eliminate the ones in your area and as soon as their scent is gone more will move in. I live in the city and get around 60 to 70 every year. By whatever means necessary.
I agree. That is why soon you will see the new, improved Conway Orchard with full squirrel protection. These things haunt me day and night and starting next year they will be licking their chops from the outside of the orchard, unable to penetrate!
I may toss them one just to show them what they are missing!
I see much fewer squirrels now than I used to. where I would see several every day, I might now see one or two a week…Not sure if it’s a result of the trees we had removed or the fact that I’m noticing more predatory birds in the ares…mostly hawks…either way, I’m not complaining…just hoping to hang on to my 3 remaining pears until they ripen…